Method and apparatus for a sensory system

A method of sensory control of a lift car located in an lift shaft which serves to define a number of separate stations between which the car can be driven and at each of which stations the car can be caused to stop to enable a person or an article to enter or leave the car characterised by the steps of: providing for the car a scanning device; providing at each of at least two or more of the stations an independent scanning extension means; providing that on, or following, the arrival of the car at one of the stations equipped with an scanning extension means the scanning device and the scanning extension means at the station are juxtaposed, or otherwise linked, to form an operable combination; scanning by means of the operable combination a predetermined region associated with the shaft at the station so as to provide as an output a signal representing a state of the predetermined region, such as whether it is occupied or not, and using the signal or a function thereof, in the event the signal or a function thereof represents a predetermined condition, to regulate subsequent operation of the lift car. There is further provided a lift system wherein an lift car is located in a lift shaft which serves to define a number of separate stations at each of which the car can be caused to stop to enable a person to enter or leave the car characterised by the provision of a scanning device supported on, or by, the car, and a scanning extension means which, at least when the car is stopped at a given station, is juxtaposed or otherwise linked to the scanning device to provide a combination unit directed to a predetermined region relative to the given station whereby the scanning device is adapted to provide on an output channel of a signal representing a state of the predetermined region.